THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY

This primer on the Donald J. Trump presidency covers most of the major controversies of his first three years in office.

This straightforward reference book explains Trump’s election and divisive personality and offers a quick look at most of the biggest issues of his presidency, particularly foreign policy, immigration, economics, and the environment. The author explains complex topics clearly, making them easy for young people—as well as less-informed adults—to understand, and the volume succinctly fulfills its purpose as a summary of the major occurrences of the presidency. Throughout, insets provide brief discussions of more specific topics, such as steel tariffs, renewable energy, and the travel ban directed at certain predominantly Muslim countries. The author is painstakingly neutral, ending each chapter with a paragraph that is essentially a pro and con treatment of Trump’s actions regarding the issue at hand. The attempt to present information without bias is noble, yet the resulting equivocation will likely fail to satisfy either supporters or opponents. Parents and teachers will wish to make this just one of several texts used to explore the Trump presidency. Additionally, conspicuous and even irresponsible in its absence are any discussion of Trump’s views, comments, and actions regarding women or the various responses of women to his presidency.

A useful and organized jumping-off point for discussion.